Excalibur Ib Fired from M109A2/A3 Howitzer in 1st-Time Test

May 06, 2015

The U.S. Army and Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully fired two Excalibur Ib projectiles from a M109A2/A3 howitzer during recent tests. Using the M185 cannon and M119A2 propelling charge with Excalibur for the first time, both rounds guided precisely to their targets more than 20 kilometers away.

The M109A2/A3 is an early variant of the M109-series howitzer operated by armed forces around the world. Based on the test results, those forces are now able to use the extended range precision capability provided by Excalibur Ib.

"With these firings, we have expanded the potential Excalibur Ib user community and proved to those countries they can add precision fires to their arsenals," said Mark Hokeness, Raytheon's Excalibur program director. "Excalibur provides its users with accurate, first-round effects capability in any environment and supports forces across the full spectrum of operations."

About Excalibur
Excalibur is a precision-guided, extended-range projectile that uses GPS guidance to provide accurate, first-round effects capability in any environment. By using Excalibur's level of precision, there is a major reduction in the time, cost and logistical burden associated with using other artillery munitions. Excalibur has been fielded by the U.S. Army, Marines and several international military forces.

• Combat proven: Nearly 770 Excalibur rounds have been fired in combat with exceptional accuracy and lethality.
• Precise: Excalibur consistently strikes less than two meters from a precisely-located target.
• Safe: Excalibur's precision avoids collateral damage and has been employed within 75 meters of supported troops.
• Affordable: With its first round effects, Excalibur reduces total mission cost and time and the user's logistics burden.
• Growing: Raytheon has demonstrated a dual-mode GPS/semi-active laser seeker Excalibur variant to compensate for target location error, maintain precision in GPS denied or degraded environments, and enable engagement of relocated or moving targets.
• Entering New Markets: With Excalibur N5, navies will be able to deliver extended range, precision naval surface fires from existing 5-inch/127 mm guns.

Source : Raytheon Corporation (NYSE: RTN)